Where do you detail if you live in an apartment?

**satrianivia** · 07-27-2010, 01:31 PM

a relatively cheap way to get electric is to use an AC converter attached to your battery. A 1000 watt inverter will run you about a 100 bucks and give plenty enough power to run a polisher.

**Dwayne** · 07-27-2010, 01:32 PM

We just brought in the Nomad Portable Power Cleaner for situations like this. When you just do not have access to a clean source of water, the Nomad really comes in handy.

This along with a few buckets at the very least helps you to be able to wash a car virtually anywhere.

**Vjeszczi** · 07-27-2010, 01:56 PM

I didn't really have an issue with water, a few sprayers full and my 2 buckets worked fine for me, more of an issue was an electric hookup.

**Flash Gordon** · 07-27-2010, 06:28 PM

Originally Posted by aznwhip

Those are all unmanned, so doubt anyone would give you grief for doing it there. Might even pick up some business while you're there lol.

Video surveilliance. Alot of these DIY are equipped where the owner can watch his/her property from home

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

I often found washing in those spray wash bays late in the evening worked best when water restrictions came about. No one cared late if you bucket washed, nor waxed in bay. Found electrical outlet on back of vacuum too.

Better pack heat. Around here washing at a DIY at night may get you shot in the head/jacked

**trhland** · 07-27-2010, 07:18 PM

Originally Posted by Dwayne

We just brought in the Nomad Portable Power Cleaner for situations like this. When you just do not have access to a clean source of water, the Nomad really comes in handy.

This along with a few buckets at the very least helps you to be able to wash a car virtually anywhere.

that things cool!

**oldmodman** · 07-28-2010, 05:04 PM

Harbor Freight is selling a little generator for $89.00 It only puts out 1KW but that is plenty of power to run a Rotary or a DA. A friend of mine bought one and made a nearly soundproof housing for it. Along with one end being an air filter with a box fan to keep a constant supply of cool air flowing across the generator. He's had it for a couple of months now and it hasn't blown up yet. And he got it because there is no power on the lower level of his parking structure, but there is a hose bib to hook up to and a floor drain right where he works.

**ScottB** · 07-29-2010, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Flash Gordon

Better pack heat. Around here washing at a DIY at night may get you shot in the head/jacked

Added to detailing aersonal while washing/drying in bad neighborhoods.

**trhland** · 07-29-2010, 12:31 PM

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

Added to detailing aersonal while washing/drying in bad neighborhoods.

u crack me up scott

**Flash Gordon** · 07-30-2010, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by killrwheels@autogeek

Added to detailing aersonal while washing/drying in bad neighborhoods.

Thats a beautiful piece you got there

Mike Phillips · 07-30-2010, 07:51 AM

Originally Posted by Jerryn206

Isn't it not a good idea to work in direct sunlight due to the surface of the car getting hot? Plus it rains a lot here so covered area's are a must.

Here's some tips for working in warm weather and it talks about borrowing shade off another building if you don't have a garage...

Tips for working in warm/hot weather or direct sunlight

Just recently when I was in Bristol, Tennessee for the TV segment for Motorhead Garage, I used the tips in the above thread and borrowed the shade off a closed restaurant early in the morning to detail my rental car in case we used it for the show. Actually took some pictures to show the car in the shade while parked close to the building.

Worked find, I did a waterless wash, clayed the paint, hand polished and hand waxed and then wiped the tires and wheels clean and then dressed the tires using all products from a Pinnacle Travel Kit.